If you want to achieve a smooth finish when painting, it is important to use the right brush for the job. White porcelain bristles are ideal for a smooth finish, while a combination of natural hair and synthetic bristles can create more texture. For a finer finish, porcelain bristles mixed with ox hair are recommended. Soft bristles will also give you a smoother finish, but it is important to use the correct brush designed for the type of paint. The Picasso oval blade brush from Proform Technologies is an excellent choice for quality results.
The ends of the brush have a significant effect on the application of paint, especially when cutting the edges. For paints with little or no volatile organic compound content, Wooster Chinex FTP brushes are specifically designed to handle them, thanks to their very stiff bristles with soft and dense tips. You can usually tell a cheap brush from a quality one by looking at the splint. If you want to avoid bristles in the paint, it is best to invest in a more expensive brush. To clean your brushes, there are special brush and roller cleaners available.
However, avoid natural bristles when painting very rough surfaces, such as bricks, because they tend to break in these situations. When painting with latex, use a flat brush for any large, flat surface, such as walls, doors, fences or furniture. A 3-inch brush is the perfect size for painting walls as it is big enough to handle large surfaces quickly and easily but not too big to make it difficult to control. For oil-based paints, there are brushes specifically designed for this type of paint. DIYers often opt for rollers on large surfaces such as walls but a brush provides greater precision and uses less paint. A good brush can make all the difference between a smooth even coat of paint and one with bristle marks and smudges.
